You can buy Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) as an over-the-counter alternative to Wegovy in the UK.
However, Orlistat is a very different type of weight-loss medication, and research suggests it’s not as effective as Wegovy in supporting weight loss.
Wegovy and Orlistat are weight-loss medications approved for use in the UK. However, they are different medications with distinct dosing schedules, costs, and mechanisms of action on the body.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are gut enzymes that break down fat from food, enabling the gut to transport fat into the body to be burnt for energy or stored in our fat cells for later use.
Orlistat blocks lipases, preventing some of the dietary fat from our meals from being digested. This leads to fewer calories being absorbed, which can support weight loss.
Orlistat is a prescription medication produced by two pharmaceutical companies in the UK:
Wegovy is a weight-loss jab manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It’s a weekly weight-loss injection with semaglutide as the active ingredient.
Semaglutide is a that helps reduce hunger and appetite, allowing you to eat fewer calories, lose weight, and manage your blood sugar levels.
Wegovy is approved in the UK for individuals living with obesity to help them eat fewer calories and lose weight.
The over-the-counter version of Orlistat will cost around £18 a month, so it’s a very affordable medication.
In comparison, buying Wegovy and the injectable pens required for four weeks from Second Nature will cost £229 a month, rising to £299.
Orlistat is an affordable medication that is generally well-tolerated. However, it’s less effective than Wegovy. Wegovy is twice as effective as Orlistat for weight loss after one year.
So, if you’re looking for the most affordable weight-loss pill you can purchase over the counter, then Orlistat could be an option.
However, if you have a higher budget and are looking for the most effective weight-loss injection in the UK, semaglutide is a better choice.
Semaglutide is designed as an additional tool for weight management and, in most cases, shouldn’t be considered a lifelong medication.
Instead, it should be used to help you kickstart your weight loss and healthy journey while you commit to living a healthier lifestyle.
Ideally, we’d be able to lose weight without medication and lifestyle changes would be enough to support weight loss in the long term.
We’d generally recommend trying Second Nature’s before considering a weight-loss jab.
Changing your habits is the most sustainable way to achieve long-term weight loss, and it’s also less expensive.
At Second Nature, we’ve been trusted by the NHS since 2017 to support people with type 2 diabetes and obesity to lose weight, manage their blood sugar levels, and lead healthier lifestyles for the long term.
In 2022, the NHS in the BMJ that compared the weight loss outcomes of five providers in the National Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Second Nature was more than twice as effective at supporting weight loss than the other four providers.
However, if you’ve decided to try semaglutide (when it’s available) but need support in making positive changes to your lifestyle, Second Nature could be an option for you. But it’s worth noting that we have strict eligibility criteria.
Second Nature has been in medicine for more than 8 years and offers a wide range of FDA approved weight-loss medications.The company that best your risk-management strategies is, Second Nature is licensed to provide weight-loss information to the public in the UK.
Orlistat is used to treat obesity and help in weight loss. Orlistat is to be used along with a low-calorie diet and regular physical exercise. Obesity is a common condition associated with excessive body fat, which in turn increases the risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and heart disease. Intake of more calories than you burn by exercise or daily activities results in obesity.
Orlistat contains Orlistat, which works in the small intestine and stomach and prevents the action of enzymes that break down fat, which is absorbed by the body. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fat from the food you eat. Thus, fat passes through the gut and is excreted in the faeces, which makes the body unable to use fat as a source of energy or convert it into fat tissue. Thereby, Orlistat helps in weight loss.
Take Orlistat as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Orlistat for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience soft stools, sudden bowel motions, flatulence (gas) with or without oily spotting, oily or fatty stools, stomach pain, stool incontinence (involuntary leakage of stools), and runny or liquid stools. Most of these side effects of Orlistat do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Orlistat or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Orlistat if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, as it may cause fetal harm. It is not known whether Orlistat is excreted in human milk. Therefore, please consult a doctor if you are a breastfeeding woman. Orlistat is not recommended for children below 18 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. You are advised to take a multivitamin containing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K at bedtime as Orlistat may reduce the absorption of certain vitamins in the body.
ContraindicationsOrlistat is not recommended for people with a history of upper or lower respiratory tract infections, patients with severe liver disease, bladder obstruction, or mild to moderate diabetic kidney disease. If you experience severe diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, or back pain, please inform your doctor about your condition.
Stomach problems
The cause of stomach problems is not clearly understood, but they are a leading cause of difficulty in passing food, especially on an empty stomach. They are usually mild and self-limiting. Common symptoms of stomach problems include:
Some people may experience flatulence (gas) with discharge, or leakage of stools, which makes it difficult to pass food. These symptoms are usually harmless and go away on their own as the body adjusts.
Stomach problems can be caused by several factors, including age, weight, underlying health conditions, and vomiting. If you experience soft stools, leakage of stools, or leakage of milk, please inform your doctor. Usually these symptoms disappear within a few days or weeks of taking Orlistat. If you experience flatulence with discharge, or leakage of stools, please inform your doctor.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders are common among people who take Orlistat. These disorders include:
Gastrointestinal disorders can increase the chances of suffering from the following disorders:
Other disorders can cause gastrointestinal disorders.
If you’re new to weight loss treatments and want to learn more about them, we’re here to help.
Tablets like (the brand name for Orlistat) work by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs. Ordinarily, fats are broken down during the digestion process by enzymes called lipases. Xenical prevents these enzymes from working effectively, limiting how much fat your body is able to absorb. The remaining, undigested fat is then excreted.
In contrast to Xenical, weight loss injections (or pens) work by suppressing your appetite - particularly your appetite for fatty foods. Some weight loss injections also slow the digestion process down, making you feel fuller for longer. They’re simple to use - check out our for more information.
Clinical trials have repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of both weight loss tablets and injections, particularly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle., participants using lost almost 15% of their body weight over a 15-month period.
Starting your weight loss journey is simple with IQ Doctor. To begin, click on a product and then hit the 'Start Consultation' button. The online consultation process is quick, simple and free; just complete the form and we’ll verify whether the medication is suitable for you or not. If it is, you can then place your order and receive it the very next day.
Complete our and you will be directed to the medication's packaging for a full list of the medications you’re expected to be taking.We’re focusing on the most appropriate form of weight loss medication for you. In most cases, your order will be contested and we’ll stoprival from calculating your risk of long-term complications.
If you’d like to learn more, we’ve got that down below. Click on a dose and we’ll stoprival’s listlier prices. If you’d like to learn more about our commitment to transparency, we’ve got that up your10s.
If you’re looking for an effective weight loss medication, you’ll want to treat yourself. If you’re an NHS-payer-friendly weight loss service, we’ve integrated trusted personalised advice for medical advice into our diabetes support.
We’ll review your specific needs, including how to manage your blood sugar, and recommend the type of diabetes service you choose. You can also give advice to other people experiencing similar symptoms or to friends and family about ways to improve your experience with diabetes.
You can also give a mental health specialist a general medical history, particularly if you have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke or have experienced a stroke within the past six months. She will review your medical history and make a diagnosis of the underlying cause of your weight loss journey.
Orlistat is a well-knownlist and is generally well tolerated. However, some users may experience side effects, including:
If you’re experiencing any side effects, though, read on. We’ll see about them asap.
Orlistat is a tablet taken once or twice daily. Your doctor will assess your response to Orlistat and whether it’s suitable for you.
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